Improvement in electric torches for lighting gas



w. gi/eats- A/Lee'l", Improvement in Electric Torches for Lighting Gas, 8in.

Patented March 5, 1872.A

cdww e ..3225

WILLIAM W. BATCHELDER.

Improvement in Electric Torches for Lighting Gas, &c.

N0. 124,3i?, Patented March 5,1872.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM IV. BATCHELDER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 124,317, dated March 5, 1872.

To all whom fit may concern:

Be it known that l, WILLIAM W. BATCHEI.- DER, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Torches, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to a hand device or torch for lighting gas by the generation of an electric current, and in the accompanying drawing Figure l represents an elevation of such a torch, elnbracing my invention. Fig. 2 represents a sectional view of the same; and Fi 3 represents a similar section, showing the gcnerating-surfaces as separated.

Upon a handle, A, I arrange a hard-rubber stem, B, upon the upperend ofwhich is mounted a fixed shell, C, provided with an interior metallic disk, l), having' its surface cushioned with any suitable material, to which, and the disk l), is attached a leather facing, E. It ishighly important to have this leather facing so at tached that its surface will be slightly spongy or yielding, and this I accomplish by sewing the same to the disk D, whichlatter for this purpose is provided with suitable holes, through which the thread passes, thereby not only producing a very cheap means of securing` the leather facing, but allowingit to yield at any point ofits surface. Upon the stem B a movable shell, F, is arranged on a sleeper, G, which is also secured to an interior metallic sleeve, K. The movable shell F is capable of having a compound movement upon the stem B-a rotary and an a-Xi al on e-for a purpose to be presently explained. This movable shelf F is also provided with a metallic disk, I, to which a hard-rubber disk, J, is secured, the surface of which is brought into contact with and separated from the leather disk E in generating and liberating the electric charge. rlhe leather disk E and the hard-rubber disk J are alike in size, as are also the shells (l and F, the latter being each provided with a flange, c j', which bear upon each other when the shells come into contact with each other. rIhe rubber disk J is mounted upon the interior sleeve K, which is connected to the outer sleeve G ofthe movable shell by means of a pin, a., pro- `jcctin g through a slot, b, in the sleeve G, in order to effect the simultaneous turning movement of the sleeve K with its rubber disk and shell F, and at the same time admit of their independent movement to effect their separation from the fixed shellC. Thisindependent movement is of the highest importa-nce, as by it the separation of the metallic connections C and Fis effected in advance of the separation ofthe generating surfaces E and J, in order to prevent the escape of the electricityback through the lips cfof the shells, thereby insuring the passage of the electric spark to the lighter. In the example shown I accomplish this independent movement by meansof moving one sleeve upon the other to a limited extent, which is controlled by the pin. a and slot l), which lock them together. The limit of this movement of the shell being reached, and the metallic connection broken, the continuance of the axial movement of the sleeves Gand K, ofcourse, effects theI separation of the generatiiig-surfaces to liberate the electric spark. Ihe electrical current is generated by a slight revolving movement ofthe hard-rubber disk J in contact with the leather disk E, the charge being held upon the surface of the hard-rubber disk J by means ofits metallic back I, so as to give out successive sparks every time the rubber and leather surfaces are brought into contact with each other; the spark passing through the fixed shell C into the lighting portion ofthe torch by means ot' the contact ofthelips of the movable and the lixed shells. rIhe rotary movement is effected by holdin g the handle with one hand, and turning the sleeves G and K with the other upon their stem B; and the separation ofthe shells and generating-surtaces is made by means of a thumb-piece, G, attached to the outer sleeve G, while the movement which forces the shells toward each other is effected by means of interior springs L and M; the spring L acting upon the stem B to force up the rubber disk J, and the spring M acting upon theinncr sleeve K to bring the Ijanges or lips c fof Jthe shells together and into contact with each other. From the iixed shell G rises the metallic conductor N, which may be of any desired shape or len gth7 and which terminates in an insulated end, O, from which projects, laterally, a metallic lighter, P, arranged to embrace the burner, and having its upper portion slotted or perforated to insure the escape of the gas from said lighter. I inmediatelyover the perforated point oftl ie lighter l), two conductors, R, are arranged so as to have the break in the metallic connection immediately over the point where the gas' escapes; vone ot' these conductors It extending from the metallic lighter, and the other from the main conductor N. The advantage otl having the lighterP to one side of the main conductor is to protect the insulator from the heat and soot ot' the flame; and this protection atl'orded to the insulated end() isotthe greatest inmortance, and renders the device perfect, as the insulated end O cannot, theretbre,be1nade to conduct the spark either bv being heated or covered by soot. The coiulucting-stem N is jointed, as shown at a, or otherwise constructed so as to admit ot' the adjustment of the lighter P for use in an)r desired position. '.lhe lighter is, in the example shown, made bell-shaped, and is provided with. a metallic link or chain, S,hangil'1g from its circumference, so as to sag, the especial object and advantage ot' which is that, in using the torch with an insulating-tip burner, the contact ot' the chain or link will be effected with the burner below the said insulating-tip, and thereby alwaj'sinsure the connection with the earth, thus adapting the torch to any kind ot'burner in use. Ihe lighter may be provided with any non-insulating aim, projection, orany pendent device, for insuring the connection otl the lighter with the burner below the insulatingtip. The conducting-stein N is provided with a key-turner, T, to open the gas-cock when the latter is out of reach, and the torch, by this key-turner, is made much more complete and convenient.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination otl the fixed and movable iiat generating-surtaces ll and J With the handle A, conductor N, and lighter I, essentially as described.

2. A portable electric torch in Which the generatingsurfaces are Separated and con nected by the axial movement o t' one upon its stem towardl the other, essentially as described.

3. The combination of the metallic connections G F with the generating-surfaces E J, so constructed and arranged that the shell F shall have a seinirating.;l movement in advance ot' and independent ot the rubber disk J, essentially as and for the purpose described.

4. The combination and arrangement ofthe inner land outer sleevesG and K, or their equivalent, with their respective springs L and M and the thumb -piece Gf, essentially as described.

5. 1n an electric torch, I claim the lighter P, arranged to one side ofthe insulated end O ot' the conductor N for the purpose ofprotectin g the saine from both heat and matter, essentially as described.

6. In an electric torch, I claim the combination, with the lighter P thereof, of a suitable device for connecting the lighter with the burner below an insulated tip, essentially as described. l

7. In an electric torch, I claim the conductor N, made adjustable, essentially as and for the purpose described. 'l

8. In an electric torch, I claim the combination ot' the fixed and movable generating-surfaces E and J, the handle A, adjustable conductor N, insulated end 0, laterally-projecting lighter P, and burner-connecting device S, the severa-l parts being constructed, arranged, and opera-ting essentialljT as described.

WILLIAM W. BA'IUHELDER.

Witnesses:

A. E. H. J oHNsoN, ALEX. A. C. KLAUCKE. 

